Rescue team joins soldier search

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Rescue teams with specialist search equipment have joined an operation to find a young soldier swept away in a moorland stream in North Yorkshire.

Members of the International Rescue Corps joined the search near Catterick Garrison, where the 17-year-old has been missing for more than 24 hours.

He and two others fell into Risedale Beck on Hipswell Moor early on Friday.

Two of the soldiers were rescued, but police, mountain rescuers and an RAF helicopter failed to find the third.

He was in a platoon of men attempting to cross the swollen beck on a routine training exercise, said an Army spokesman.

About 50 other soldiers had successfully crossed before him.

Heat-seeking equipment

On Saturday, the Army said the teenager's next of kin had been informed of the situation.

A spokeswoman for the International Rescue Corps, which is best known for its work locating people buried following earthquakes, confirmed one of its 12-strong teams was on the moor.

She said: "They have two boats and specialist heat-seeking equipment with them.

"They are there to assist the police and the military in their search."

The spokeswoman said the team cut short a training exercise in Hampshire to join the North Yorkshire operation.

North Yorkshire Police, who are leading the search operation, said an investigation had started involving their officers and the Health and Safety Executive, as well as the Military Police's special investigation branch.

But a force spokesman added: "However, at this stage the priority for the investigation remains to locate the missing soldier."